Writing exercises are a great way to improve your skills and writing flow

In my last post, I mentioned that I don’t believe in writer’s block. What I do believe in are writing exercises and improving my skills.

I believe in writing so much, so fast that my fingers fly over the keyboard on their own. It doesn’t have to make sense. It doesn’t have to be spell checked or published or even read. It just needs to be written. Writing exercises let me do that.

If you would love to write so much that your fingers seem to move on the keyboard with a mind of their own – or drastically improve your writing, then the following exercises are a great place to start.

Some of the exercises and my reasoning behind it might seem odd (for lack of a better word) to you. But I’ve found that thinking about it as a disconnect between my brain and fingers is a lot more productive than telling myself I have a writer’s block.

A disconnect can be fixed with ease and a little effort. A writer’s block becomes an elephant of a mental block that you can’t get past. Whether you agree or not, try out these exercises the next time you have trouble writing.

Prompts

Writing prompts have been around since the first cry of writer’s block. Prompts don’t clear a block. They hone a skill. They give you a reason to write.

Websites like oneword.com are extremely popular and effective. One word and 60 seconds. Nothing like a prompt and a timer to get your fingers typing.

If you’ce been using prompts trying to produce works of art then you’re probably failing spectacularly. Prompts can give you a start, they can make your writing but they can’t give you polished prose.

Using writing prompts is a great way to exercise your skills. It’s a break from the norm and gets your creative juices flowing.

Write free style

Free style writing usually means writing about whatever comes to your mind. It doesn’t have to be work and it doesn’t have to be fiction. Writing freely is more of a brain dump. You write down all the extra stuff that’s in your head so that there’s only room for thinking about what you want to write.

Somehow, this technique has never worked for me. The idea of a brain dump seems so unpractical. How do I decide what to dump and what not to? And there’s a part of me that keeps thinking it won’t solve anything. I’ll be wasting precious time writing crap. Time, that will be better spent on writing what I need to write.

One thing I’ve tried a few times that seems to work well is Morning Pages. The idea behind it is simple. Just spend 15 minutes in the morning before you start work writing about anything that’s on your mind.

I’d have gotten stuck at the ‘anything that’s on your mind’ bit. (Because really, how vague is that?) So instead, my 15 minutes were spent writing about all the crazy stuff that happened the day before that I did not want to waste my time or think about today. Worked out great for me. You should consider trying it out too!

Jot conversations

Sometimes it’s all about working the kinks out of your fingers. If you find yourself writing in fits and starts then it’s probably because your brain can’t seem to connect with your fingers. What you’re trying to say isn’t being translated on the keyboard. There’s a handy exercise to fix it.

Head out to a cafe or turn on the TV if you can’t. Start writing what you hear. If you’re in a cafe, concentrate on any one of the conversations happening around you and start typing it down. The same for TV.

Eventually it will become mindless typing and a part of your brain will go back to focusing on what  you were writing before. But since you’re not actively focusing on it, there won’t be any pressure to write. And once you feel like your fingers have warmed (so to speak), you’ll find writing easier.

One good thing about writing conversations you hear on TV is that you’ll learn to recognize action words. And how to write dialogues that show instead of tell. Nice side benefit eh?

Comment on blogs

Every one talks about commenting on blogs as a way to network, increase traffic, and getting your name out there. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that commenting on blogs can be used a writing exercise too.

Reading blogs and posting thoughtful comments put your brain in the ‘zone’. You’re concentrating on someone else’s work for a chance . More importantly, you’re thinking as a reader.

So not only does leaving comments on blogs give you a writing exercise, it also gives you a fresh perspective. Once you’ve commented on a few blogs, you might find that your thoughts are more streamlined and connected – which will naturally translate in your own writing.

Stop the clock

Setting a timer and writing works for many writers. It doesn’t for me. What does work is not looking at the clock or worrying about the time. Doing that allows me to simply write. I’m not ruled by deadlines or my own idea of how long it should take me to write something.

Once I take the time pressure out of the equation, I find that getting stuck writing isn’t as stressful. And since there’s no clock telling me I’ve been toying with a single paragraph for almost an hour, there’s nothing stopping me from doing so!

Sometimes all you need is the freedom to play around with your writing – even if t means rewriting a sentence more than a dozen times.

Have you tried writing exercises? Which ones work for you? More importantly, which ones don’t?

I’ve been wanting to get something off my chest for a long time.

I don’t believe in writer’s block. To me, it doesn’t exist. If it does for you, then let me assure you that it’s all in your head. It’s just an excuse for procrastination.

Now I don’t mind procrastinating. Everyone does it. I procrastinate more than I should and it usually means I don’t write.

It’s the writers who try to pass off their procrastination as a writer’s block that I have a problem with.

Over at Procratinating Writers, Jenniffer has an excellent post on writer’s block. Like me she doesn’t believe in it. According to her, there’s no such thing as a writer’s block. I couldn’t agree with her more!

If you’re unable to write, it’s because you’re procrastinating, have something better you want to do or something is holding you back – and no, it’s not writer’s block that’s holding you back. Or maybe, just maybe, you just don’t want to write. There’s no law stating that as a writer, you must write everytime you think you should.

So the next time you think you have writer’s block, ask yourself whether you even want to write? Maybe you just want to watch TV.

Have you been paid yet?

By P.S Jones

Of all the things you do as a freelance writer, invoicing is the task that brings the money. You can submit all of the beautiful well-written work in the world, but if you don’t send an invoice, you’re probably not getting paid for it.

Even though invoicing is quite possibly the most important part of the project for us, we freelancers often think of it as an afterthought. We slap on the amounts and send them out without thinking about whether our invoice is actually giving the impression we intended. If you’re making one of these mistakes, it’s time to tighten up your invoicing process.

Sending Them Too Early or Too Late

Timing is everything in invoicing. You send them too early and your client wonders why you’re jumping the gun. You send them too late and the client wonders who are you and why do you want to be paid. (It’s happened to me!)

If you’re wondering when to send your invoice, check back with your project contract. My contract says I get paid half at the start of the project and half upon completion. I send an invoice as soon as we agree on the project and an invoice as soon as I’ve confirmed my work is done.

Sending Them to The Wrong Person

To receive money for your invoices, you must send them to the person who can actually give you the money. Sounds simple, right?

Well, sometimes your contact person isn’t the person who makes the payments. Especially when working with agencies, these two positions are separation. You’d assume that the contact person would forward the invoice on to the money person, wouldn’t you? Don’t. You know what they say about assuming.

Check your contract and invoice to the person it specifies. Otherwise, send it to your contact person and ask that they forward it on to accounting if necessary.

Forgetting to Put Your Logo On Them

Every piece of communication is a branding opportunity for your freelance writing business. Putting your logo on your invoice reinforces the brand and also reminds the person paying the bills who you are right away. It doesn’t take the place of your name and payment information, but it does stick in the client’s mind.

If you’re using Freshbooks, PayPal or some other third party program, there are ways to personalize your invoices in the settings. Make sure you take a few moments to do it.

Not Putting Specific Information on Them

Your invoices should be as specific as possible for both your benefit and the client’s. Instead of just writing an amount on them, specify the work done for that amount. If you were working hourly, don’t forget to explain the hours associated with each line on the invoice.

This helps your client keep accurate records and if you ever have to take client to court, it helps reinforce what you did and why you should be paid for it.

Forgetting to Say How You Want to Be Paid

So, you’ve sent the invoice on time. Check. You’ve double checked that the specifics are correct. Check. Now, did you tell them how to pay you? Your invoice should specify what payment methods you take. It should also give any other information the client will need, such as the email address for PayPal or the mailing address for a check.

Don’t take a certain payment method? That should already be in the contract but the invoice is a great place to remind the client of the original terms.

Not Stating Your Late Payment Terms

Late payments happen in the best of situations, even when the client has the best of intentions. However, having a late payment policy will prompt some clients to pay you before they pay contractors without one. It also factors in some compensation for the time inconvenience.

Many freelancers are scared of instituting a late fee in their contracts but I’m not sure why. I’m sure your client charges one to its customers. Why shouldn’t you, too? If you have late payment terms, it should be in the contract, but reminding the client on the invoice covers makes it crystal clear.

Not Following Up

Now, if you’re making this mistake, you must have so much money that you just don’t miss a couple hundred dollars. For the rest of us, having too much money isn’t a problem we’re experiencing. This is why you absolutely have to keep track of your invoicing.

Should you invoice a client and then call them repeatedly during the next 48hours for payment? No. However, if your payment is overdue, it’s time to get in contact. It could be an oversight or some other problem you need to fix.

My late fees kick in at a week overdue so that’s when I place a tactful phone call or email. You’ll have to decide when it makes sense for you.

Princess Jones is the founder of P.S. Jones Communications. She writes about freelance writing on Diary of a Mad Freelancer and entrepreneurship on She’s Self-Employed. You can talk more about invoicing and clients with Princess by tweeting with her.

You need to read unconventional freelancing blogs

There’s no denying that blogs like Freelance Folder and Freelance Switch are  excellent sources of knowledge when it comes to freelancing. Following them is a given. If you don’t, you’re missing out.

However, what’s not a given is that these blogs aren’t the only fish in the sea. There are a lot of blogs out there offering freelancing advice that may be more tailored to your specific freelancing situation.

Here are 5 blogs I read that relate well to my freelancing situation, aspirations and interests.

1. Diary of a Mad Freelancer

The day I discovered Diary of a Mad Freelancer is the day I realized how sugary all the blogs out there are. Princess offers to the point and often-blunt advice – even if her titles may seem like they have nothing to do with freelancing!

Besides, how can you not love a blog with a tagline that reads “There are millions of people who develop grotesque facial ticks when they hear the words ‘nine to five’. We call them freelancers.

Some of my favourite posts from Diary of a Mad Freelancer are

• Never Forget To Feed Your Dragon

• Beyonce Wears a Weave and Other Things You Should Know

• The Art of Disappearing: Finding Your Voice For a Client00.

2. Vered DeLeeuw of Social Media Marketing Expert

Vered, perhaps more popularly known for her personal blog Mom Grind is my go to blog for all things social media.

I’m a big fan because it doesn’t teach you how to use social media like many popular blogs. Instead it talks about being a social media consultant. As a freelance blogger, I often find myself answering my client’s social media questions. Reading Vered’s Social Media Marketing blog keeps me posted on possible questions a client may have.

Some of the posts I’ve found helpful are

• But No One Reads My Blog

• Twitter: Aim for a Good Mix of Professional And Personal

• Your Blog, Your Rules

3. Guerrilla Freelancing

Mike Smith of Guerrilla Freelancing believes in guerrilla tactics for taking your freelance business to the next level. Not only does he believe it – but that’s how he has managed to make a success of his own business.

I doubt I’ll ever be a hard core freelancing guerrilla like Mike but I still love going to his blog to read what he has to say.

Some of the posts I really like are,

• How to Increase Your Cold Email Response Rates by 50%

• Crappy Clients: How (and When) To Fire Them without Feeling Guilty

• 30 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics for Freelancer

4. The Renegade Writer

I’ve been a long time reader of The Renegade Writer. Linda is a freelance writer with extensive experience in freelance writing for print and online magazines.

Her blog is a gold mind of information for anyone looking to establish his or her freelance writing business.

Some of her posts that were eye openers for me are

• 3 Excuses That Are Keeping You From a Successful Freelance Writing Career

• Why You Should Write For Smaller, Fewer Clients

• 3 Tips For Balancing Freelancing With Parenting And Housework

5. One Woman Marketing

Kelly Watson’s One Woman Marketing has been a recent find. Every time I click to read her new post, I find myself going through her archives.

Her posts always give me something new to think about and the marketing examples she uses in her posts are great!

Some of the posts I particularly liked are

• How to Make a Social Media Marketing Plan for Your Business

• Creating and Sticking to a Blog Schedule (with free templates)

• Paradox of Choice: How Variety Can Hurt Your Business

Got any favourites of your own that relate really well to your freelancing situation? Tell us about them and share the love!

Take a close look

Before your website does anything – and I mean anything at all, it needs to convince your visitor to stay on your web page a few more seconds and take a closer look around.

Those first few seconds, it’s all about the presentation of your web copy.

Is the text easily readable? Are there interesting images making the whole web page pleasant to look at? Is the placement of the text easy on the eyes or are there big chunks of text that don’t make any sense?

These are the things that convince your visitor to look around and find out what your site is all about. The tagline, blog, about page – it all comes after that.

Here are a few simple ways you can convince your visitor to stay a few more seconds and take a look around.

1. Highlight Keywords
2. Add sub headings
3. Use bullet points & numbered lists
4. Write in inverted pyramid style
5. Express one idea per paragraph (in 3-5 sentences)
6. Use short sentences (around 20 words is ideal)
7. Insert an image to add visuals
8. Hyperlink your text
9. Highlight important points with block & pull quotes

These tips don’t need any explanation. Everyone knows how to do all of these. Your job right now is to go back and see if your web copy has all or at least 4 of these elements. Less than 4 and your web copy needs to be restyled.

Is your web copy scannable? Will I be convinced to read your text? Leave a link in the comments and I’ll visit and do a review.